A Bloody Delight of Alchemy, Ghosts, and Gore

You know that feeling when you find a book that’s so perfectly tailored to your taste that you’re both thrilled and a little pissed off for not discovering it sooner? That was me with The Scarlet Alchemist. I mean, come on—Chinese folklore, blood magic, an intense alchemy exam competition, resurrection, ghosts, and scenes so dark they made my spine tingle. How have I not heard about this series before???

If you love The Poppy War series, this book will probably land right in your sweet spot—same level of brutality, same visceral punch, but with its own distinct flavor of dark magic and mythology. 

And the cover? Oh, the cover. Usually, when a book has a gorgeous, aesthetically pleasing cover, it feels like a cruel lie because the contents rarely match the beauty on the outside. But this one? This one delivers. The inside is just as good as the outside.

But if you’re here hoping for a swoon-worthy enemies-to-lovers romance, I hate to break it to you—this prince is about as charismatic as a rock.

I kept waiting for him to show some spark, some depth—anything, really—but he just stood there being rich and princely. Honestly, it gave me flashbacks to the prince in Cinderella. Remember watching that movie as a kid and realizing you knew literally nothing about him? Same vibe here. He’s handsome, sure, but where’s the personality? The charm? The banter?

But thank the book gods for Zilan and her cousins. Their banter is sharp, hilarious, and full of hear. Their dynamic was so strong that it more than made up for the cardboard cutout prince.

So, while the romance (or lack thereof) might have been a bit of a letdown, the rest of the book delivered. Dark magic, intense scenes, and a plot that had me hooked from the first page. Plus, Zilan’s POV is gold.

It’s an instant favorite for me. Not quite The Poppy War level, but definitely in the same league. And honestly, I’m officially obsessed—and already looking for the sequel.